Cross-cultural dialogue a must to strengthen cooperation among Myanmar’s ethnic media

UNESCO Yangon’s Raheela Chaudhry (1st from left) with BNI Managing Director, Zin Linn (2nd from right) (©UNESCO)

Ethnic media in Myanmar have, in recent years, been given greater freedom to operate within the country, due to the government’s ongoing media reforms. This late start, however, has resulted in ethnic media trying to play catch-up – challenges such as the inadequate information infrastructure have limited their ability to fulfil their role as independent watchdogs and sources of information for society.

A project by Burma News International (BNI) seeks to change this.

BNI, a group of 11 independent news organisations operating in conflict areas in Myanmar, recently held two intensive five-day training workshops in Yangon (15 – 19 December 2014) and in Mandalay (14 – 18 January 2015). The workshops were attended by more than 30 invited ethnic media editors and journalists, including representatives from Mon, Kachin, Chin and Shan media.

The workshops, part of a UNESCO Bangkok International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) project, sought to strengthen and sustain a free and independent media, especially in ethnic areas with limited access to information.

In her keynote address, Ms Raheela Chaudhry, a media development programme specialist at UNESCO Yangon, reiterated UNESCO’s support for BNI and its work to strengthen ethnic media networks in Myanmar. She also drew attention to the vital role and responsibility of the media – both editors and journalists – in bringing people closer, ultimately contributing to the peace-building process.

A wide range of topics were discussed during the workshops – from mapping out the ethnic media landscape in Myanmar, to the media’s role in peacebuilding and democracy, the ethnic and cultural differences in communication, as well as practical topics such as media laws, newsroom management and journalism ethics.

The workshops ended off with group discussions on the launch of a new web portal – currently being developed – that would serve as a cooperation platform for ethnic media to share ethnic-related news and issues, as well as views and opinions on the peace process. Mainstream national and international media would also be encouraged to access the published content and disseminate stories produced by ethnic media.

Open, cross-cultural dialogue is a key component of media development, Ms Chaudhry said, adding that media development and journalism education were, and would remain a priority for UNESCO, especially in Myanmar, where the media landscape was undergoing a rapid transformation. Projects like BNI’s, complemented by other initiatives that enhance cooperation, tolerance and understanding among different ethnic groups, would contribute to a deep-rooted and long-lasting peace process in the country.